Three Irish athletes will get their competition underway later today in Finland at the European Youth Olympic Festival. This event is held every two years and is run by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) as a preparation for what it will be like to compete in a full Winter Olympic Games.
Ireland’s team consists of four athletes, all female with today’s three competing in the Girl’s Slalom starting at noon Irish time for the first run with the second run two hours later.
Kailey Murphy, whose father is from Dublin, and whose sister Elle competed in the EYOF in Sarajevo in 2019 will be the first, followed by Megan Ryan whose brother and sister Matt and Emma have also skied for Ireland. Her father is from Dublin and her mother is from Roscommon. Charlotte Turner will also be in competition, with paternal grandparents from Galway and Cork.
“The hill is pretty small compared to some of the mountains we are used to skiing in back in the US,” said Ryan but it’s really cool, we have Slopestyle right next to us so it’s cool that we get to see all the events in such a closed space.”
“It’s pretty quick,” added Murphy. “It should be about a minute course and I’m super excited to see the top racers, I think it will be pretty cool to see them in the Beijing 2022 suits too.”
Ireland’s fourth competitor will be on the ice with figure skater Elizabeth Golding taking part in two competitions. She will be the first figure skater to represent Ireland at an Olympic event.
“It’s so nice to know that you are the first person to ever do this,” she said.
“I expect to have fun out there. I have a short programme and a long programme. In my short programme, it’s a lot of fun music so I expect to be having fun, and the second programme is more serious. I’m hoping to do everything cleanly and just go out and have fun.”
